act against homophobia in sport

Homophobia in sport is not ok. Using past sporting glory as a platform to attack people and spread hate and fear is also not ok.

Margaret Court was a fantastic tennis player, however as an evangelical christian minister she has been using her profile as one of Australia's premier sporting stars to spread homophobia and hatred while her holding company, Victory Life Centre sells 'gay cures' and 'anti-gay therapy'.

In a country that deifies sporting stars, and where we know 30% of same-sex attracted teens will attempt suicide and acts of serious self-harm (more than twice the 14.5% of straight teens) this is harmful. We welcome Tennis Australia's press release distancing the Australia Open from Margaret Court's views, however actions speak louder than words.

We ask that Tennis Australia take the following two steps:

1. Join the Fair Go, Sport! program run by the Victorian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner; and, 2. Help Australian Open players (who want to) make and publicise 'It gets better' videos.

We ask Tennis Australia to protect the integrity of tennis as a place where the values of sportsmanship, fairness and inclusiveness are paramount. We also note that Margaret Court herself welcomes the rainbow flag flying over the Margaret Court Arena

This petition was delivered to:

General Manager, CommunicationsDarren Pearce

Craig Tirley, Tournament Director, Australian Open 2012Australian Tennis Open 2012

Chief Executive, Tennis AustraliaSteve Wood

Letter to

General Manager, CommunicationsDarren Pearce

Craig Tirley, Tournament Director, Australian Open 2012Australian Tennis Open 2012

Chief Executive, Tennis AustraliaSteve Wood

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Tennis Australia.

----------------act against homophobia in sport

Homophobia in sport is not ok. Using past sporting glory as a platform to attack people and spread hate and fear is also not ok.

Margaret Court was a fantastic tennis player, however as an evangelical christian minister she has been using her profile as one of Australia's premier sporting stars to spread homophobia and hatred while her holding company, Victory Life Centre sells 'gay cures' and 'anti-gay therapy'.

In a country that deifies sporting stars, and where we know 30% of same-sex attracted teens will attempt suicide and acts of serious self-harm (more than twice the 14.5% of straight teens) this is harmful. We welcome Tennis Australia's press release distancing the Australia Open from Margaret Court's views, however actions speak louder than words.

We ask that Tennis Australia take the following three steps:

1. On the last day of the Australian Open 2012, replace all "Tennis Australia" flags with rainbow flags;2. Join the Fair Go, Sport! program run by the Victorian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner; and,3. Help Australian Open players make 'It gets better' videos.

We ask Tennis Australia to protect the integrity of tennis as a place where the values of sportsmanship, fairness and inclusiveness are paramount. We also note that Margaret Court herself welcomes the rainbow flag flying over the Margaret Court Arena----------------